Ice creeper



S p 1942- I s. G. BOWMAN 2,296,660

I CE CREEPER 1 Filgd April 22, 1941 I d @LQ INVENTOR I MMdJ/Md Patented Sept. 22, 1942 ICE CREEPER Samuel G. Bowman, Mount Lebanon, Pa., assignor of one-half to Karl F. Bauerschmidt, Knoxville, Pa.

Application April 22, 1941, Serial No. 389,763

2 Claims.

My invention relates to creepers, that is, those devices that are applied to the soles of shoes, to insure safe footing upon icy surfaces and slippery pavements.

A creeper consists, in simplest form, of a metal plate that on one side is smooth, that on opposite side is provided with cleats (or other protuberances adapted to take purchase upon slippery surfaces), and that is equipped with a strap adapted to embrace the instep of a shoe, and to secure the plate to the sole of the shoe, with the cleats directed downward.

My invention consists in specific refinements in the structure of such a creeper, by virtue of which:

(1) The creeper may be more readily and quickly applied to a shoe and removed;

(2) The cleated plate, while remaining in applied position on a shoe, may be readily inverted from normal service position, in which the cleated side is directed downward, to a position in which the smooth side of the plate is directed downward, whereby the creeper may be temporarily worn indoors without marring floors or snagging rugs;

(3) The cost of manufacturing the creeper is reduced to a minimumto approximately a cent and a half.

In the accompanying drawing a device of the invention is illustrated:

Fig. I is a view of the device in front elevation;

Fig. II is a View of the same partly in side elevation and partly in section, on the plane IIII of Fig. I;

Fig. III is a, view of the device in plan from below;

And Figs. IV and V are views of the device applied in service position to a shoe, the shoe being fragmentarily indicated in broken lines. The device appears in side elevation in these views, in Fig. IV in normal position of service, with the cleats directed downward; and in Fig. V in inverted position, with the cleats directed upward and the smooth side of the plate faced downward.

The cleated plate of the device consists in a substantially flat, rectangular body 2 of metal of in thickness, 3 in length, and 1 in width. The plate carries on one side or face a plurality of cleats 3, and includes adjacent to each end a slot 4. The cleats 3 consist in this case in hollow, circular protuberances that in known way may be punched and pressed from the metal body of the plate, although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular form of the cleats.

The strap that secures the plate in service position upon the sole 5 of a shoe 6 consists, in accordance with the invention, in an elastic band 1, preferably a rubber band of uninterrupted continuity-a rubber band of about -6" in thickness, in breadth, and 7 /2 in circumferential extent, when not distended. In assembling the band with the cleated member 2, the plate-like body of such member is, as indicated by dotted lines 8, slit from outer edge 20 to each slot 4, and through these slits the body of the continuous rubber band is inserted in the slots 4. In such manner the band is attached or secured to the cleated plate, it being noted that the attachment is effective adjacent to each of the opposite ends of the plate, and that the reach la. of the band between the slots 4 extends upon the smooth side of the plate, leaving only relatively short portions lb of the band exposed on the cleated side of the plate, which is manifestly the side that is subject to greatest wear in service. Indeed, the portions of the plate body between the slots and the ends of the plate may be offset, as shown at 40, whereby the portions 11) of the band are nested substantially within the plane of the plate, and are thus guarded so far as possible from wear. When the band has been thus assembled with the plate, the slits 8 may be closed by soldering or welding; alternatively, by forming the plate of a steel of proper strength, the slits may be left open without unduly weakening the structure.

It is to be understood that the body 2 is such in structure that it may be formed of heavy sheet metal, or plate, in a single stamping operation, at a cost of less than one cent, while the band 1 may consist in a rubber band of the sort now available on the open market at a cost of less than one-half cent.

In a modified mode of assembling the band 1 and the cleat-carrying member 2, the slits 8 may be omitted. The band I may be cut, temporarily interrupting its continuity; the band is threaded through the slots 4, and the free ends of the band are then reunited, say by vulcanizing. Again, the band may be in the form of a strap of rubber that is vulcanized, or otherwise efiectively secured at each end to the plate. As will presently appear, however, the arrangement that provides the reach 1a of rubber upon the smooth side of the plate is preferable. And in any of the cases mentioned it will be understood that the elastic band, including in its extent the plate 2, provides an endless or continuous shoe-embracing device,

By Virtue of the elasticity and flexibility of the band 1 the device may be readily applied to a shoe, it being necessary merely to expand the band in the hands, and then slip the device over the toe of the shoe. The device is shown in normal position of service in Fig. IV, the cleats 3 being directed downward, and the smooth side of the plate facing upward, with the portion 1a of the band lying between the plate and the sole of the shoe. Needless to say, the device may be easily removed from the shoe, when and as desired, but many times the user will not desire to remove the device when he goes indoors for a short stay. And this brings us to one of the most important aspects of the invention.

It will be understood that hitherto creepers have been designed that will permit the cleatbearing element to be inverted, and the cleats turned upward against the sole of the shoe, so that the user may walk on floors and rugs without damaging them. But so far as I am aware all of the creepers designed to permit of this desirable adjustment have been elaborate and costly construction, including hinges, pivot-joints, or other such mechanical expedients. Through the provision of my extensible and flexible band 1, the plate 2 may be readily turned from the position shown in Fig. IV to that shown in Fig. V, and this may be done while the device remains applied to the shoe, the band 1 readily yielding to permit the manipulation. In the indoor position of the device (Fig. V) the cleats bear against the sole of the shoe, and the smooth side of the plate is faced downward. The user may walk on polished floors, rugs, and carpets, without injuring them. And it will be perceived that the portion (a of the band, extending upon the downturned surface of the plate, provides a cushioned tread that may be so far effective as to keep the metal plate entirely out of contact with the surface upon which the user stands.

The elasticity of the band is effective to secure the plate, in either of the positions described, snugly against the sole of the shoe. And it is noteworthy that, by virtue of the particular structure described, the cleated plate 2 of the device may be, and advantageously is, arranged to lie entirely within the edges of the sole on which it is worn, leaving no portions extending from the edges of the sole, in such manner as might catch on the clothing of the user, or interfere with walking.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a creeper comprising a plate cleated on one side and relatively smooth on the other, and an elastic band adapted to secure the plate in position upon the sole of the shoe of the user; the refinements herein described in which said plate is anchored adjacent to its opposite ends to said band, said plate, when secured upon the shoe of the user (with the band positioned in encompassing relation upon the instep of the shoe), being adapted by virtue of the elasticity of said band to be inverted from a position in which the smooth side of the plate is presented upward, with the instep-encompassing band arranged fiat upon the vamp of the shoe, to a position in which said smooth side of the plate is presented downward, with the instep-encompassing band twisted in its extent over the vamp of the shoe, said plate being of substantially greater width than said band and thereby adapted to remain in inverted position against the torsional stress of the twisted band.

2. In a creeper comprising a plate cleated on one side and relatively smooth on the other, and an elastic band adapted to secure the plate in position upon the sole of the shoe of the user; the refinements herein described in which said plate is transversely slotted adjacent to each end, said elastic band being relatively narrow with respect to the plate and being threaded through said slots, the relatively short portions of the band that extend between the slots and the ends of the plate lying on the cleated side of the plate, and the relatively long portion of the band that extends immediately between the slots lying on the smooth side of the plate, said plate, when secured upon the sole of the shoe of the user, with the band positioned in encompassing relation upon the instep of the shoe, being adapted to be inverted from a position in which the smooth side of the plate is presented upward, with said portion of the band that extends immediately between said slots interposed between th plate and the sole, to a position in which said smooth side of the plate is presented downward, whereby the last-mentioned portion of the band comprises a tread between the plate and the surface upon which the user stands.

SAMUEL G. BOWMAN. 

